LBA25 FRESCO-2: A global phase III multiregional clinical trial (MRCT) evaluating the efficacy and safety of fruquintinib in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract

Effective treatment options are limited for patients (pts) with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Fruquintinib (F), a highly selective, potent, oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR-1, -2, and -3, was approved in China in the 3L+ mCRC setting based on results from the FRESCO trial (NCT02314819). FRESCO-2 (NCT04322539) evaluated F in more heavily pre-treated pts reflecting current global practices. FRESCO-2 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo (P)-controlled, phase 3 MRCT conducted in the US, Europe, Japan & Australia, comparing F + best supportive care (BSC) with P + BSC. F or P was given 5 mg PO, QD, 3 wks on, 1 wk off, in 28-d cycles. Key criteria: Prior chemotherapy, anti-VEGF therapy, and, if RAS wild type (WT), anti-EGFR therapy; if BRAFV600E mutant (MT) or MSI-H, ≥1 targeted regimen; & prior exposure to trifluridine/tipiracil (T) and/or regorafenib (R). Pts were randomized 2:1 to F + BSC or P + BSC and stratified by: prior therapy T, R or both; RAS status (WT, MT) & duration of metastatic disease (≤18, >18 months [m]). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Key secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) & safety. Final analysis was after 480 OS events. From 2Sep2020 to 14Dec2021, 691 pts were randomized; F:461 vs P:230. Baseline characteristics were balanced. F significantly improved OS (median: 7.4 m vs 4.8 m P; HR=0.66; [95% CI: 0.55, 0.80]; p<0.001) & PFS (median: 3.7 m vs 1.8 m P; HR=0.32; [95% CI: 0.27, 0.39]; p<0.001). The median duration of follow-up was 11.3 m F vs 11.2 m P. Subsequent anti-cancer therapies were 29.4% F vs 34.3% P. DCR was 55.5% F vs 16.1% P & ORR was 1.5% F vs 0% P. Grade ≥3 adverse events were 62.7% F vs 50.4% P; those occurring in ≥5% on F were hypertension (13.6% vs 0.9% P), asthenia (7.7% vs 3.9% P) & hand-foot syndrome (6.4% vs 0% P). F had a significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS in pts with refractory mCRC. F was well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with the established profile for F monotherapy. FRESCO-2 results are consistent with FRESCO and should support a new treatment option in refractory mCRC.